Hearst sells Cycle World magazine

Hearst Corp. today announced the sale of Cycle World magazine to Bonnier Corp., a consumer publishing group that also publishes Popular Science, Parenting, and Field & Stream magazines.

The announcement was made jointly by Terry Snow, CEO of Bonnier, and David Carey, president of Hearst Magazines. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Cycle World’s current staff will remain, according to the two companies. That includes Mark Hoyer, who has worked for Cycle World since 1999 and who leads the editorial team as vice president of brand content and editor-in-chief. Andrew Leisner leads the business side as vice president of integrated sales and marketing.

Bonnier, which formed in 2007, has grown its portfolio to more than 50 media brands, mainly through acquisitions. Bonnier launched Popular Science's app on the iPad in April 2010. (Cycle World's app launched one year earlier.)

Founded in 1962 and based in Newport Beach, Calif., Cycle World publishes a monthly magazine with a circulation of 235,000.

Bonnier Vice President and Group Publisher Eric Zinczenko, who heads up the company's Outdoor Group, will direct the Cycle World operations. “Adding another leading men’s vertical to our portfolio of enthusiast brands presents larger opportunities for our strategic partners as we share many of the same advertisers,” Zinczenko said. “This acquisition reinforces Bonnier’s pursuit of aggregating the largest men’s audience in media, and most important, the unwavering commitment to producing the highest quality content possible.”

“Our company excels at serving passionate special-interest audiences, so Cycle World is a solid strategic fit,” said Terry Snow. “The Cycle World brand holds a position of leadership and respect in the motorcycle industry. That means a lot for us as we look to enhance the connection that marketing partners can have with this audience.”